NASCAR
Denny Hamlin Takes Toyota’s First Nashville Win With Fireworks
LEBANON, Tenn. – Nashville Superspeedway delivered in many different ways for its sixth Cup Series showing. Denny Hamlin started first, only to jump the start and serve an early penalty. The No. 11 Toyota would only retake the lead in Stage 3, and had to battle back on a late restart. Taking teammates three-wide at the white flag, Hamlin made the right moves to end a roller coaster night in victory lane.
From the pole, Denny Hamlin jumped the start and went all the way back to 38th after serving a penalty. Stage 1 would see eight different drivers lead, and ended in a one-lap shootout. This dash to the first checkered flag saw AJ Allmendinger edge ahead of Kyle Larson.
It’s a one-lap shootout to end Stage 1! @AJDinger holds off @KyleLarsonRacin to win the opening stage at @NashvilleSuperS. pic.twitter.com/s0rs9IQVTr
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 1, 2026
A few back-to-back yellows also shook up the running order in Stage 2, giving this win to Daniel Suarez.
Hamlin would cycle up front to start the final stage and soon drove off from the pack. Christopher Bell would stalk down and pass Hamlin on a long run, though, with 55 laps left. Bell quickly built up his own large lead, and had position through green flag pit stops.
Chris Buescher pounding the wall and triggering a caution with 13 laps left would be this race’s turning point. On the restart, Hamlin fired off even with Bell, making the winning pass on the last lap. Joining Tyler Reddick and Chase Elliott as multi-time winners this season, Hamlin can now cross Nashville off the winless tracks list.
DENNY HAMLIN WINS AT NASHVILLE IN A THRILLER! pic.twitter.com/6EK3382CRM
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 1, 2026
“I think the 20 and 19 were battling so hard in that first corner,” Hamlin said. “Just let me get to the inside of the 20 in the first corner there after the restart. From there, it’s just side by side with the 20. He drove in so deep on that last lap into [turn] one. I just made it barely clear off of [turn] two. But man, what an unbelievable day. Starting first, going to last, and back to first.”
“I definitely jumped the start. No doubt about that. But yeah, just looking back on, it just didn’t wait quite long enough. but I want to say hi to Maury and Trish from Progressive, and the whole team at Sport Clips. Martha’s retiring, so happy retirement to Martha, and Jordan Brand, Yahoo, National Debt Relief, King’s Hawaiian, Bob’s Discount Furniture, just thanks to all the sponsors that I’ve gotten. It’s just been amazing. And thank you to this sell out crowd. I appreciate y’all sticking around, it’s been an honor.”
Joe Gibbs Racing brought home a top-three sweep between Hamlin, Bell, and Chase Briscoe. They just beat out Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Shane van Gisbergen. The rest of Nashville’s top-10 were: Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Zane Smith, and Carson Hocevar. Elliott and Reddick both wrecked hard after the checkers thanks to a bad bump from Blaney.
Now a two-time winner in 2026, Hamlin only trails Tyler Reddick in the championship by 97 points. 14 races into the regular season, the updated points can be seen below.
Updated #NASCAR Cup Series championship standings following race 14 from Nashville.
Reddick leads Hamlin by 97 points, and Austin Cindric is the last one in The Chase by 2 points over Ryan Preece. #CB400 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/K70POAigio
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) June 1, 2026
From one Hamlin domination to the site of possibly another, driver 11 heads into Michigan International Speedway as the reigning winner. 2025 saw the No. 11 leave the field in the Irish Hills dust, and he will gun for back-to-back wins in the FireKeepers Casino 400. The green flag will fly Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Video, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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